Multipole mechanically held relay



April29,1969 R S EL ET AL 3,441,700

MULTIPOLE MECHANICALLY HELD RELAY Filed Sept. 20, 1967 Sheet 0f 2 FIG 1.2

ATTORN EYS April 29, 1969 F. P. SPlNELLl T AL 3,441,700

MULTIPOLE MECHANICALLY HELD RELAY Sheet INVENTORS.

Filed Sept. 20, 1967 F/QAAl/d P. JP/A/ELL/ paM/A M, W/krae- BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,441,700 MULTIPOLE MECHANICALLY HELD RELAY Frank P. Spinelli, Brookside, and Dominik M. wiktor,

Craut'ord, N.J., assignors to Automatic Switch Company, a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 669,116 Int. Cl. H01h 3/02 US. Cl. 200-153 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Plurality of rows of switches arranged in circular pattern around a shaft rotatable through limited angle. Pairs of toggle members rotatable with shaft alternatively open switches in every other row and close switches in the alternate rows. Springs within switches for urging the switches toward normal conditions produce a moment about the shaft serving to hold the shaft in either of its two operative positions.

This invention relates to multipole relays of the type in which a number of electrical switches are opened at the same time that a number of other switches are closed. Such relays have a variety of applications. For example, in electrical apparatus wherein two separate sets of controls are provided to be used alternatively, a multipole relay may be utilized to switch over from one set of controls to the other in the event of failure of the first set.

More specifically, the invention relates to mechanically held multipole relays, such relays ordinarily being used where continuously energized magnetically held relays would be objectional for reasons of economy, safety, or permissible noise level. In conventional magnetically held relays both normally closed and normally open contacts are provided, the contacts being biased in their normal positions by an external spring. Consequently, to actuate such a relay, the magnetic operator must be large and powerful enough to initially overcome the external spring force so as to open the normally closed contacts and close the normally open contacts. Thereafter it must maintain the latter in their new position, while at the same time having a low iwattage value to make continuous operation feasible. In addition, in known mechanically held relays, the operator is itself the mechanically held unit. Therefore, the relay cannot be used without an operator. Furthermore, the contacts are usually positioned in a linear arrangement so that only a limited number of contacts can be employed if the relay is not to become impractically large.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a multipole mechanically held relay in which the contacts remain in either stable condition of the relay regardless of the type of operator used with the relay, and regardless of whether or not an operator is present.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a relay capable of accommodating many more contacts in a given linear space than conventional relays of this type.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a multipole relay wherein individual switches may readily be replaced.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide such a relay wherein switches can be added to the relay without altering the shape or size of the relay frontal area.

To accomplish these objectives, the invention includes a support structure carrying a plurality of switches arranged in circular array about a central axis. Each switch has an operating button normally spring biased in one direction and movable radially toward and away from the central axis to effect its operation. An actuating means movable about the central axis is operable to actuate adjacent pairs of switches oppositely so that when one switch is closed, an adjacent switch is open. The arrangement is such that the springs of the switches maintain the actuating means in either one of its operating positions independently ofany external operator.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a multipole relay according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2, showing the parts in one operating position of the actuating means; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the parts in the other operating position of the actuating means.

Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a support structure in the form of spaced support plates 10 and 12. Mounted between the plates 10 and 12 are a plurality of switches '13 and 14 (all the switches being identical), a main operating shaft 16 rotatably supported at its ends 15 and 17 by the support plates 10 and 12, and an actuating means, indicated generally at 18 (FIG. 2), operable by rotation of the shaft 16 to actuate the swtiches 13 and 14. The individual switches 13 and .14 may be conventional and accordingly, only a brief description thereof will be set forth. Each switch comprises a housing 20 (FIG. 3) one side 22 of which projects beyond the confines of the housing 20. The side 22 serves to partition the external terminals 28 of each switch from the external terminals of the adjacent switches. A pair of stationary electrical contacts 24 is fixed within the housing 20 and connected to the terminals 28. A pair of movable contacts 32, carried by a conductive arm 34, is normally biased into engagement with the stationary contacts 24 by a coil spring 36. Thus, in the present example, all the switches 13 and 14 are normally closed. However, if the movable contacts 32 were located on the opposite side of the stationary contacts 24, the switches would be normally open. A push button 38 of insulating material projects through an opening in the housing 20 and rests against the face of the arm 34 opposite the face engaged by the spring 36. Thus, depressing the push button 38 will open the normally closed switch against the force of spring 36, and releasing the push button allows the spring to reclose the switch.

The switch housing 20 has through holes adapted to receive elongated bolts 40 so that a row of side-by-side switches 13 or 14 may be secured in abutting relationship between the support plates 10 and 12. In the drawings, eight such rows are shown arranged in a substantially circular array about shaft 16, the push button 38 of each switch extending generally radially toward the shaft 16. Four rows of switches 13 alternate with four rows of switches 14, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As will be described, switches 13 and 14 in adjacent rows are operated in pairs so that when the switches 13 are closed, the switches 14 are open, and vice versa.

The actuating means 18 for the switches 13 includes an elongated drive pin 41 disposed radially inwardly of each row of switches 13 and adapted to be moved along a radial line toward and away from the switches so as to depress or release, simultaneously, all the push buttons 38 in its respective row. Similarly, the actuating means for each row of switches 14 includes an elongated drive pin 42 movable radially toward and away from its respective row of switches. The ends of the drive pins 41 and 42 extend through the support plates 10 and 12, and are guided for radial movement in elongated slots 44 and 46 in the support plates 10 and 12, respectively. The movement of the drive pins 41 and 42 is effected via links 47 and 48, respectively, each having one end fixed to a drive pin and the other end pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 50 carried by a collar means 52 fixed to the main shaft 16. The collar means 52 comprises a set of spaced discs 54 between which the pivot pins 50 extend. As best shown in FIG. 2 there are duplicate axially spaced pairs of links 47 and 48, and duplicate axially spaced sets of collar means 52. Additional groups of links and collar means may be employed as desired depending on the number of switches 13 and 14 employed in a row, and hence in the length of the relay. The links 47 and 48 are arranged in pairs, each pair of links 47 and 48 being carried in a common pivot pin 50. Thus, each set of discs 54 carries four pivot pins 50 for supporting eight links 47 and 48 which actuate eight rows of switches 13 and 14.

The shaft 16 to which the discs 54 are fixed is adapted to be rotated between its two operative positions through a predetermined angle, in the present example 45. Since the discs 54 rotate with the shaft 16, the pivot pins 50 are accordingly angularly displaced the same number of degrees to establish two operative positions for the ralay, one position being shown in FIG. 3 and the other in FIG. 4. In FIG. 3, each link 48 is oriented so as to lie almost parallel to a radial line extending from the shaft 16, and each link 47 is arranged at an angle to any radial line crossing it. Conversely, in FIG. 4, each link 47 lies almost parallel to a radial line, and each link 48 is angled with respect to such a line. Since all the links 47 and -48 are of the same length, the links which are almost parallel to radial lines locate their respective drive pins 41 and 42 in their maximum radially outward position. More specifically, in FIG. 3 the drive pins 42 are at substantially their radially outermost locations, and the pins 41 are at their innermost locations. Consequently, the push buttons 38 of all the switches 14 are depressed and hence these switches are open. However, the push buttons 38 of the switches 13 are not contacted by the pins 41 and hence these switches are closed. In FIG. 4, the drive pins 41 are at substantially their radially outwardmost locations, and the pins 42 are at their innermost locations. Consequently, the push buttons 38 of all the switches 13 are depressed and hence these switches are open. However, the push buttons of the switches 14 are not contacted by the pins 42 and hence these switches are closed. Thus, the relay has one operating position (FIG. 3) in which all the switches 13 are open and the switches 14 closed, and another position (FIG. 4) in which the converse is true.

The links 47 and 48 may, of course, be thought of as toggle members since as each link is brought into alignment with its respective pivot pin 50 and the shaft 16, it pushes its associated drive pin 41 or 42 outwardly.

Fixed to the shaft 16 is one leg 58 of an L-shaped lever 56, the leg 58 being adjacent and parallel to the support plate 10. The other leg 60 of the lever 56 passes through an arcuate slot 62 in the plate 10. The two operative positions of the actuating means 18 are defined by stops 64 and 66 (FIGS. 3 and 4) projecting from the plate into the path of movement of the leg 58 of lever 56.

In each operative position of the actuating means 18, each pivot pin 50 is located slightly to one side of a radial line drawn between the shaft 16 and the drive pin 41 or 42 which is at that time holding its respective switches open. Thus, in FIG. 3, the pins 50 are each to one side of a line drawn between the shaft 16 and one of the drive pins 42. Consequently, the springs 36 of the switches 14, pushing radially inwardly on the links 48 via the pins 42, produce a moment about the shaft 16 tending to rotate the latter in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3. This rotation is prevented by the engagement between the stop '64 and the leg 58 of lever 56. In this way, the springs of open switches 14 mechanically hold the relay in the operative position shown in FIG. 3. In contrast, in FIG. 4, the pins 50 are each to one side of a line drawn between the shaft 16 and one of the drive pins 41. Consequently, the springs 36 of the switches 13, pushing radially inwardly on the links 47 via the pins 41, produce a moment about the shaft 16 tending to rotate the latter in a clockwise direction in FIG. 4. This rotation is prevented by the engagement between the stop 66 and leg 58. Thus, the springs of open switches 13 mechanically hold the relay in the operative position shown in FIG. 4. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the relay of this invention is maintained in either of its operative positions without any assistance from an operator. Furthermore, the relay may be shifted from one operative position to the other simply by rotating the shaft 16 to move the leg 58 from one stop to the other.

A variety of operators may be used with the relay of this invention. For the sake of simplicity, a manual operator is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The operator comprises a handle 72 pivotally supported on a pin 70 mounted in a frame 71, which is in turn mounted on the exterior face of the plate 10. The handle 72. carries a pin 74 slidably arranged within a slot 76 in the end of the leg 60 of lever 56. When the handle is in the position shown in FIG. 2, the other parts are in the position shown in FIG. 3, with the leg 58 against the stop 64. When the handle is swung downwardly in FIG. 2, the shaft 16 rotates until the leg 58 abuts the stop 66 (FIG. 4). Obviously, the motion provided by the handle 72 can readily be provided by a solenoid or any other type of conventional operator.

In the above described embodiment, additional switches 13 and 14 may be added to each row without altering the frontal area of the relay as defined by the area of the support plates 10 and 12. Any switches 13 or 14 may be easily replaced merely by temporarily withdrawing the elongated bolts 40, replacing a switch, and returning the bolts 40.

The invention has been shown and described in preferred form only, and by way of example, and many variations may be made in the invention which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment.

What is claimed is:

1. A multipole relay comprising at least two independent stationary switch contacts, an independent movable switch contact cooperable with each of said stationary contacts, each movable contact being movable between a switch open position in which it is out of engagement with its respective stationary contact and a switch closed position in which it engages its respective stationary contact, spring means for urging each of said contacts toward one of its positions, actuating means mounted for rotation about an axis fixed with respect to said stationary contacts, an operator for shifting said actuating means between two positions to alternatively maintain one or the other of said movable contacts in one of its positions against the force of itsrespective spring, said springs producing a moment on said actuating means when the latter is in either of its said two positions tending to maintain said actuating means in either position it is occupying, whereby said actuating means remains in the position to which it is shifted without requiring external holding means.

2. A multipole relay as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a pair of toggle members, one end of each toggle member being operatively associated with one of said movable contacts, and said toggle members being so arranged that they may be straightened alternatively.

3. A multiple relay as defined in claim 2 wherein a single member mounted for rotation about said fixed axis forms part of both of said toggles, the other part of each toggle being formed by a link having an operative end for moving its respective movable contact, said links both being pivotally secured to said single member at the same point on said member.

4. A multipole relay as defined in claim 3 including stops for limiting the rotational movement of said single member and defining the two positions of said actuating means, said pivot point on said single member being located when said actuating means is in either of its positions on one side of a line drawn between said fixed axis and the operative end of the link whose respective spring is stressed, the operative end of the other link being located on the opposite side of said line, whereby said stressed spring serves to maintain said actuating means against the stop it is engaging.

5. A multipole relay as defined in claim 1 wherein said switches are arranged in an arcuate pattern having said fixed axis as its center.

6. A multipole relay as defined in claim 5 including a plurality of switches arranged in rows parallel to said fixed axis.

7. A multipole relay as defined in claim 5 wherein said actuating means includes a pair of toggle members allocated to each two adjacent rows of switches, a pin parallel and adjacent to each row of switches, said pin being constrained to move in a radial direction toward and away from the movable contacts of its associated switches, and one end of each toggle being connected to one of said pins.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,250,865 5/1966 Bleibtreu 200-153 XR 3,315,043 4/ 1967 Baumgartner. 3,400,231 9/ 1968 Bleibtreu.

ROBERT K. SCI-IAEFER, Primary Examiner. H. BURKS, Assistant Examiner. 

